Water barrier device

ABSTRACT

Barrier for in particular water comprising inclined supports against which loading pallets are inclined, over which membranes are placed for the shaping of a sealed structure that is inclined towards the water mass that is to be enclosed. The supports are connected to each other by means of laterally arranged push and pulling forces taking lateral connections provided with flanges in their ends for the enclosing or gripping of a loading pallet. The lateral connections have in their ends protrusions protruding against their inclined support and gripping into holes in the upper loading pallet supporting beam. The lateral connections are telescopic and fixable in different positions, for instance by means of holes and through pins for the adaptation to different pallets and orientations of these respectively.

[0001] The present invention refers to barriers and overflow protection of the kind that is for instance described in the Swedish Patent No. 9502817-1. This device was a great step forward at the fighting of flooding. The barrier that is described in the patent is costructed of loading pallets that are leaned against inclined supports and a membrane is then applied over the loading pallets and a short distance out below the water that is to be dammed. Since the support is inclined a part of the pressure force from the water will be directed down against the ground, resulting in that the supports remain in place without being swept away by the water pressure. Loading pallets are almost always available in good quantities and thus it is only the supports that have to be stored between the moments of use. The barrier therefor becomes very rational and effective.

[0002] In the above described overflow barrier it is however, it has turned out, in reality a draw back that one at its building at the same time need to have access to loading pallets as well as supports. This result in that the persons taking care of the building must handle the support and the loading pallet at the same time. This requires a certain ability and furthermore the loading pallets are heavy and cumbersome. Furthermore the transport of supports and loading pallets to the site of the barrier building must be parallel and in step. In particular if one compares this type of barrier with other known constructions this barrier design allow a far quicker erecting and more flexible use than what has been previously known. Since it however at floods often take some time before the task force is in place and the required decisions have been taken etc. respectively, it will always be a question of a fight against time and therefor the time factor is incredibly important in view of the damage that may arise and where consequently small time differences can make a great a difference. The invention has therefor as its object to provide a barrier structure of the initially described kind that can be applied quicker and more rationally than before.

[0003] A further draw back at the above overflow protection is that the adaption to uneven, undulating or broken ground normally requires additional measures in the form of hammering and mailing, which partly takes time, partly requires the access to the required carpenter material and carpenter equipment. Furthermore one becomes dependent of that the persons doing the carpentry work are skilled enough to prevent the resulting supporting structure from becoming to weak since in that case it may easily give in. In view hereof the invention also has as its object to provide a device that is more adaptable to a varying ground.

[0004] In accordance with the invention the above objects are solved by at the barrier of the above described type arrange a pull-push connection between the supports. By adapting the length of the connection to the loading pallet width lengthwise of the barrier a norm distance is achieved between the supports at the erection of these securing that each loading pallet will rest against two supports. Since the lateral connection that in principal can be constituted of a bar that in a suitable manner grips the support for instance with hooks locating the supports and the erection of these take place quickly. Since the supports furthermore are connected to each other in a long row of lateral connections it will be enough with a few loading pallets at the start of a barrier being placed in order for all supports to stand stable already before the loading pallets are placed against these. With other words it becomes possible to build a row of supports entirely independent of if the loading pallets are in place or not. Since supports and loading pallets respectively do not to have to be transported simultaneously up to the same point of the barrier the persons taking care of the transport does not have to go in the way of each other but the mounting of the barrier can be made more rational. Furthermore pallet handling becomes much easier since the pallets are only put in place.

[0005] Since the supports hold each other in place it is of little importance if the ground goes up or down and the loading pallets can then be adjusted in place with more or less wedge-like intermediate small gaps without any nailing or other connection being required, which also simplifies demounting and reduces the risk of damage of for instance the loading pallets (due to the nailing or removal of nails).

[0006] As a further result of the invention also a pulling connection lengthwise of the barrier is obtained when this is in use, which may turn very essential if some part of the barrier is subjected to an impaired ground for instance due to the ground being disintegrated due to water penetrating into the ground and below the supports. At such a location one risks that the barrier is pushed out, drawn out and final bursts. With the pull-taking connection achieved with the invention larger forces than otherwise can be handled and the limit of what the water barrier can stand is increased essentially since a possible week part may be supported by adjoining parts.

[0007] Further advantages and characteristics of fixer developments of the invention are apparent from the patent claims, as well as from the following description of an embodiment of the invention shown in the enclosed drawings.

[0008] In FIG. 1 is shown a support in accordance with the invention seen from the side and including an upper beam 1, a lower beam 2 and an intermediate support beam 3. The beam 1 has in its lower end a flange 4 against which the lower edge of the loading pallet in question rests. The beams 1 and 2 are articulated to each other and the support 3 is in its upper end articulated to the upper loading pallet supporting beam 1 while in the lower beam a stop is arranged for the support 3 so that this can not slide further out in the lower beam and that the position shown in FIG. 1 is stable at a pressure against the loading pallet and thereby against the upper beam 1 supporting this.

[0009] Between the supports, as shown in FIG. 2 telescopic lateral connections are arranged constituted by an inner tube 5 and all outer tube 6. The inner and outer tube are provided with holes going all the way through, through which a locking pin 7 can be arranged. In this way the lateral connection will be adaptable to different loading pallet orientations and different loading pallet widths respectively (for instance American or European). The tubes 5 and 6 are in their outer ends provided with flat iron extensions 8 welded thereto, that in their ends are bent and extend towards the pallet side in such away that they constitute flanges, heels or bosses with a distance between them that is somewhat larger than the width of the pallet. In this way the support will hold the pallets in question in place laterally. In the opposite direction, that is down towards the beams 1 the tubes are provided with short tube pieces 9 that grip into corresponding holes 11 and 12 in the beams. The holes 11, 12 and the tube pieces 9 respectively can advantageously be quadratic to their shaping and the holes in the beams may be somewhat displaced height-wise. Depending on the orientation of the pallets the feet of the pallets will end up in different positions and in order to allow the flanges or ears constituted by the flat irons 8 to grip the loading pallets in different levels holes are arranged in different levels on the pallets.

[0010] In order to secure that the lateral connections are held in place gripping into the supports the short tube pieces are provided with holes extending all through crosswise were pins can be applied when the lateral connection has been brought in place. Since at the mounting of the lateral connections no loading pallets are in the way it is comparatively easy booth to see and reach the place of these pins and the mounting can take place quickly, with a subsequent adjustment of the supports to the vertical position.

[0011] As is apparent from above it is possible with a very rational mounting of the supports according to the invention. One person can extend the lateral connections to the right length and lock this, one person mount it on the supports and an additional takes care of the locking with pins and an additional person can go ahead and raise the support at the approximately correct spacing, alternately the work may be arranged in some other and perhaps even more rational way. Afterwards a work team follows placing loading pallets in place resting on the flanges 4 and placed between the ends of the flat irons of the lateral connections.

[0012] In case the person erecting the supports is not successful in following the desired line it is comparatively easy to adjust this line before the loading pallets are applied.

[0013] If so desired one can furthermore in particular with some orientations of the loading pallets easily connect the cross connection with the loading pallet reducing the risk that this during mounting of the membrane etc., etc., falls away, blows away, flows away etcetera. In the normal case it is far more easy to thread a tape or the like around the lateral connection and a plank in the loading pallets or openings in the panel of one kind or another. If so desired this also provides the possibility to allow a certain displacement or overlap lengthwise of for instance panels in relation to the supports.

[0014] In order fewer to improve the strength of the ready barrier the upper beam is provided with flanged holes (se FIG. 4) These flanged holes form teeth that can grip strongly so that also the loading pallets can be made to take up forces in the length direction of the barrier. The barrier in this way becomes more resistent to forces trying to pull it a part.

[0015] The teeth of the supports gripping into the loading pallets does not only strengthen the barrier in its lengthwise direction by taking up the pulling force but also makes the barrier more stable by counteracting the shearing and movements in general that otherwise could lead to a braking of the barrier.

[0016] At the mounting of the barrier in accordance with the invention in water, flowing or still water it may be difficult to use loading pallets and it may be more practical to use panel material that is heavier than water or to place weights on the loading pallets.

[0017] At an uneven ground and/or a very bent extension of the barrier it may become difficult to use loading pallets due to the rectangular shape of these and also here it may be practical to use panels or boards, since these on the inside of the bend can overlap each other. In these bends the above described telescopic lateral connection is particularly advantageous in the cases when one wish to use more than one lateral connection between neighboring supports.

[0018] The heels in the outer ends of the lateral connections do advantageously not extend more forward than the thickness of the panels that may come to use. This facilitates also at overlapping when the overlapping board extends in over a neighboring board and heels of the respective lateral connection.

[0019] The boards, profiles or panels that can be used instead of loading pallets can advantageously have standardized length, for instance coinciding with the dimensions of a loading pallet. They may furthermore be provided with holes for the fastening to the lateral connections by for instance tapes, rubber bands, or the like. 

1. Barrier for in particular water comprising inclined supports against which loading pallets are inclined, over which membranes are placed in order to form a sealed structure inclined outward from a mass of water that is to be enclosed, wherein the supports are connected with each other by lateral push and pulling forces taking lateral connections.
 2. Barrier according to claim 1, wherein the lateral connections are provided with flanges or the like in their ends to enclose or grip a loading pallet.
 3. Barrier according to claim 1, wherein the lateral connections in their ends have extensions extending towards the inclined support and grip into holes or other fasteners.
 4. Barrier according to claim 3, wherein the extensions are provided with locking devices, possibly in the shape of through holes, into which pins can be inserted to hold the extensions in the inclined supports.
 5. Barrier according to claim 1, wherein the lateral connections are telescopic and lockable in different positions, for instance by holes and through pins.
 6. Barrier according to claim 1, wherein the supports are provided with gripping holes in the lateral connections in different levels for adaptation to the location of the legs of different loading pallets and different orientations for these respectively.
 7. Barrier according to claim 1, wherein the loading pallet supporting surface of the support is provided with teeth or pointed projections for stable fixing of and against the resting loading pallet and loading pallets respectively.
 8. Barrier according to claim 1, wherein one or several loading pallets are exchanged for boards or panels, in particular allowing overlapping in bends of the barrier.
 9. Barrier according to claim 8, wherein boards have the same outer contour as the loading pallets.
 10. Lateral connection for joining two barriers as claimed in claim 1, comprising two telescopically displaceable tubes provided with fasteners adjustable to different relative positions and lengths, the outer ends of said fasteners being arranged to fasten to the inclined supports.
 11. Lateral connection according to claim 7, and including flanges, heels or the like protruding towards the side of the loading pallet for a gripping over respective loading pallet lower edge or board edge.
 12. Barrier for in particular water comprising inclined supports against which panels are inclined, over which membranes are placed in order to form a sealed structure inclined outward from a mass of water that is to be enclosed, the supports being connected with each other by lateral push and pulling forces taking lateral connections.
 13. Barrier according to claim 12, wherein the panels on the side facing the supports are provided with ridges or protrusions cooperating with the edges of the supports to stiffen the structure when subjected to water pressure.
 14. Barrier according to claim 12, wherein the panels taper away slightly from the middle to allow a slight angling of the panels on for instance uneven ground.
 15. Barrier according to claim 12, wherein the panels are fastened to the lateral connection fasteners.
 16. Barrier according to claim 12, wherein the lateral connections have protrusions that grip into holes in the supports allowing a slight angular play.
 17. Barrier according to claim 16, wherein the grips in the ends of the lateral connections that are inserted into the supports are hollow so that fasteners for the panels can be inserted therethrough and through corresponding holes in the panels.
 18. Barrier according to claim 17, wherein the means securing the lateral connections to the supports are provided with locking pins also locking the fasteners for the panels against withdrawal.
 19. Barrier according to claim 1, wherein in corners and bends of the barrier tapering panel strips are used that are reinforced by lengthwise extending tubes or bars fastened to the panel strips.
 20. Barrier according to claim
 19. wherein the tapering strips are held to lateral connections between the supports by L-shaped brackets that can be fastened to the reinforcing bars and grip the lateral connections.
 21. Barrier according to claim 19, wherein the tapering strips are roof-like.
 22. Barrier according to claim 12, wherein the panels are made of aluminum. 